SURFERS TAKE
Iconic club chasing private backers for second base — and billionaire neighbours already helping
ONE of Australia’s most iconic surf lifesaving clubs wants to build a second base at the southern end of Narrowneck. A multimilliondollar Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club branch has been floated for parkland in David Evans Reserve on Main Beach Parade. The club has been confined to the Paradise Centre at Cavill Ave since the 1980s, but president Trevor Hendy (above) is knocking on doors for private sector support for the new venture. Developer Aquis, building a $440 million tower across the road, has volunteered staff to help with early planning, which will be lodged with the Federal Government next week.
ONE of the Gold Coast’s oldest surf lifesaving clubs would be brought back to the beach under a plan to fill a patrol black spot between Surfers and Main Beach.
A multimillion-dollar new Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club branch has been floated for parkland in David Evans Reserve on Main Beach Pde, at the southern end of Narrowneck.
It would incorporate training, surf education and storage facilities as well as bar and restaurant facilities as the 165-member club looks to treble its membership.
The landlocked club has been confined to the concrete corner of the Paradise Centre at Cavill Ave since the 1980s, with nippers and lifeguards having to navigate busy Surfers Paradise Bvd to get to the sand.
Currently the second smallest club on the Gold Coast by member numbers, Surfers SLSC patrols the strip of beach that is easily the city’s busiest for rescues and preventive actions – and it’s only set to get busier.
President Trevor Hendy said the existing clubhouse would remain their supporters club and main entertainment venue, while the new “north branch” would focus on surf sports and education.
“We have a section of beach in front us, north from where we are now, that is the second biggest black spot in Queensland for surf safety,” he said. “We’re looking at how we could look after more of that beach.
“A second clubhouse allows us to get back on the beach and have our nippers on the beach and play more of a role in the community, to have schools come to visit us and give them more surf awareness.”
Former ironman Hendy is already knocking on doors for private sector support – starting with the site’s billionaire neighbours Aquis, who are building a $440 million project across the road at Pacific Point, which is likely to attract more beachgoers to the area.
The Hong Kong-based developer has volunteered staff time to help the club prepare their plans and has not ruled out financial backing in future. Other Gold Coast clubs, including nearby Northcliffe SLSC, have used private sponsorships with great success to improve facilities and buy new sport and rescue gear.
“We’ll be reaching out to the whole community for backing,” Hendy said.
“We’re looking after the region, we make sure the tourists return home safely.
“We need somewhere to look after all these people moving into that area.”
The club will lodge an environmental impact assessment for review by the Federal Government next week.
Hendy said Surfers SLSC, which plans to treble their membership in coming seasons, wanted their facility to complement the area and protect the surrounding environment.
He said there were no plans for poker machines or other gaming on the site and that Gold Coast City Council, which manages the land for the State Government, supported the idea.
“We’ve been very careful not to fill our place with pokies – that’s not our scene,” he said. “I want the kids in our surf clubs to be valued – they grow up to be great community leaders.”